HEYSHAM FLAT 11Th July 2017 Completed By: Mandy Knott
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Fisheries in EMS Habitats Regulations Assessment for Amber and Green risk categories NWIFCA-MB-EMS-SEED MUSSEL HEYSHAM FLAT 11th July 2017 Completed by: Mandy Knott Site: Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary European Designated Sites: UK0013027 Morecambe Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) UK 9005031 Morecambe Bay Special Protection Area (SPA) UK11045 Morecambe Bay Ramsar UK9005031 Duddon Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) UK11022 Duddon Estuary Ramsar Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary pSPA European Marine Site: Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary Qualifying Feature(s): SAC and Ramsar H1110. Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time; Subtidal sandbanks H1130. Estuaries H1140. Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide; Intertidal mudflats and sandflats H1150. Coastal lagoons H1160. Large shallow inlets and bays H1170. Reefs H1220. Perennial vegetation of stony banks; Coastal shingle vegetation outside the reach of waves (NON MARINE) H1310. Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand; Glasswort and other annuals colonising mud and sand; Pioneer saltmarsh H1330. Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae) H2110. Embryonic shifting dunes (NON MARINE) H2120. Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria ("white dunes"); Shifting dunes with marram (NON MARINE) H2130. Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation ("grey dunes"); Dune grassland (NON MARINE) H2150. Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea); Coastal dune heathland (NON MARINE) H2170. Dunes with Salix repens ssp. argentea (Salicion arenariae); Dunes with creeping willow (NON MARINE) H2190. Humid dune slacks (NON MARINE) S1166. Triturus cristatus; Great crested newt (NON MARINE) Natterjack Toad (NON MARINE) SPA and Ramsar A026 Egretta garzetta; Little egret (non-breeding) A038 Cygnus Cygnus; Whooper swan (non-breeding) A040 Anser brachyrhynchus; Pink-footed goose (non-breeding) A048 Tadorna tadorna; Common shelduck (non-breeding) A050 Anas Penelope; Wigeon - (non-breeding – Ramsar only) A054 Anas acuta; Northern pintail (non-breeding) A063 Somateria mollissima; Common eider (non-breeding – Ramsar only) A067 Bucephala clangula; Goldeneye - (non-breeding – Ramsar only) A069 Mergus serrator; Red-breasted merganser - (non-breeding – Ramsar only) A130 Haematopus ostralegus; Eurasian oystercatcher (non-breeding) A137 Charadrius hiaticula; Ringed plover (non-breeding) A140 Pluvialis apricaria; European golden plover (non-breeding) A141 Pluvialis squatarola; Grey plover (non-breeding) A142 Vanellus vanellus; Lapwing - (non-breeding – Ramsar only) A143 Calidris canutus; Red knot (non-breeding) A144 Calidris alba; Sanderling (non-breeding) A149 Calidris alpina alpina; Dunlin (non-breeding) A151 Calidris pugnax; Ruff (non-breeding) A156 Limosa limosa; Black-tailed godwit (non-breeding) A157 Limosa lapponica; Bar-tailed godwit (non-breeding) A160 Numenius arquata; Eurasian curlew (non-breeding) A162 Tringa totanus; Common redshank (non-breeding) A169 Arenaria interpres; Ruddy turnstone (non-breeding) A176 Larus melancephalus; Mediterranean gull (non-breeding) A183 Larus fuscus; Lesser black-backed gull (Breeding, non-breeding) A184 Larus argentatus; Herring gull (Breeding) A191 Sterna sandvicensis; Sandwich tern (Breeding) A193 Sterna hirundo; Common tern (Breeding) A195 Sterna albifrons; Little tern (Breeding) Phalacrocorax carbo; Cormorant – (non-breeding – Ramsar only) Podiceps cristatus; Great crested grebe - (non-breeding – Ramsar only) Seabird assemblage PageWaterbird 1 ofassemblage 83 Site sub-feature(s)/Notable Communites: SAC and Ramsar Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time – Subtidal coarse sediment, subtidal mixed sediments, subtidal sand, subtidal mud. Estuaries - Intertidal mud, intertidal sand and muddy sand, intertidal mixed sediments, intertidal coarse sediment, intertidal rock, intertidal stony reef, intertidal biogenic reef: mussel beds, subtidal coarse sediment, subtidal mixed sediments, subtidal sand, subtidal mud, Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand, Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae). Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide; Intertidal mudflats and sandflats – Intertidal mud, intertidal sand and muddy sand, intertidal mixed sediments, intertidal seagrass beds, intertidal coarse sediment. Coastal lagoons Large shallow inlets and bays – Intertidal mud, intertidal sand and muddy sand, intertidal mixed sediments, intertidal seagrass beds, intertidal coarse sediment, intertidal rock, intertidal stony reef, intertidal biogenic reef: mussel beds, intertidal biogenic reef: Sabellaria spp., subtidal stony reef, circalittoral rock, subtidal coarse sediment, subtidal mixed sediments, subtidal sand, subtidal mud, Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand, Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae). Reefs – Circalittoral rock, intertidal biogenic reef: mussel beds, intertidal biogenic reef: Sabellaria spp., intertidal rock, intertidal stony reef, subtidal stony reef. Perennial vegetation of stony banks: Coastal shingle vegetation outside the reach of waves Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand: Glasswort and other annuals colonising mud and sand; Pioneer saltmarsh Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae) (referred to as Saltmarsh) Embryonic shifting dunes Shifting dunes along the shoreline with Ammophila arenaria (“white dunes”); Shifting dunes with marram Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (“grey dunes”); Dune grassland Atlantic decalcified fixed dunes (Calluno-Ulicetea); Coastal dune heathland Dunes with Salix repens spp. Argentea (Salicion arenariae); dunes with creeping willow Humid dune slacks Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) Great crested newt (NON MARINE) – coastal sand dunes Supporting habitat: Natterjack Toad (NON MARINE)- coastal sand dunes SPA and Ramsar Annual vegetation of drift lines, Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-puccinellietalia maritimae), coastal lagoons, freshwater and coastal grazing marsh, intertidal biogenic reef: mussel beds, intertidal coarse sediment, intertidal mud, intertidal rock, intertidal sand and muddy sand, intertidal seagrass beds, intertidal stony reef, Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand, water column. Generic sub-feature(s): Intertidal mud and sand, Intertidal mud, Seagrass, Saltmarsh spp., Brittlestar beds, Subtidal muddy sand, Intertidal boulder and cobble reef, Subtidal boulder and cobble reef, Sabellaria spp. reef, Intertidal boulder and cobble reef, Surface feeding birds, Estuarine birds, Intertidal mud and sand, Intertidal boulder and cobble reef, Saltmarsh spp., Coastal lagoons. High Level Conservation Objectives: Morecambe Bay SAC With regard to the SAC and the natural habitats and/or species for which the site has been designated (the ‘Qualifying Features’ listed above), and subject to natural change; Ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the Favourable Conservation Status of its Qualifying Features, by maintaining or restoring; lifying natural habitats ribution of qualifying species within the site. Morecambe Bay SPA With regard to the SPA and the individual species and/or assemblage of species for which the site has been classified and the Ramsar Site and the wetland habitats and/or species for which the site has been listed (the ‘Qualifying Features’ listed above), and subject to natural change; Ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the aims of the Wild Birds Directive and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the wise use of wetlands across the UK, by maintaining or restoring: e qualifying features, and, Page 2 of 83 Duddon Estuary SPA With regard to the SPA and the individual species and/or assemblage of species for which the site has been classified and the Ramsar Site and the wetland habitats and/or species for which the site has been listed (the ‘Qualifying Features’ listed above), and subject to natural change; Ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the aims of the Wild Birds Directive and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the wise use of wetlands across the UK, by maintaining or restoring: ructure and function of the habitats of the qualifying features the site. Fishing activities assessed: Gear type(s): Hand-gathered – Seed Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Page 3 of 83 1. Introduction 1.1 Need for an HRA assessment THE CONSERVATION OF HABITATS AND SPECIES REGULATIONS 2010 (AS AMENDED) The NWIFCA proposes to authorise a seed mussel hand-gathered fishery at Heysham Flat, in Morecambe Bay by derogating against minimum landing size for mussel. This proposal is classed as a plan or project. The area lies within a European designated site (also commonly referred to as Natura 2000 sites), and therefore has the potential to affect its interest features. European sites are afforded protection under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, as amended (the ‘Habitats Regulations’). The proposal site is within the Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary SPA and the Morecambe Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which are European sites. The site is also listed as Morecambe Bay Ramsar site and also notified at a national level as Morecambe Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). As